@Faroukfabulous: The NFF were right to sack arrogant Keshi

by Farouk Olayide

Keshi is by far the best Nigerian indigenous coach. Breaking the ‘golden bronze’ hoodoo at the AFCON 2013 with 16 débutantes and relatively unknown players. That’s some remarkable achievements you could think of. The road to winning the AFCON was rough drawing the first 2 games then going on to win the last game of the group. Rumour had it that, NFF officials were already booking return ticket as the team were set to play tournament’s favourite, the Ivory Coast who Nigeria dispatched from the competition courtesy of Sunday Mba’s strike.

After winning AFCON, Keshi threatened to resign thinking he was not appreciated enough. It took the intervention of the president before he rescinded his decision. That’s when his ego started setting in because he felt the president appreciated him and some Nigerians including the NFF officials do not.

The big test for Keshi for me as a coach was during the Confederations cup, that’s when Keshi started allowing sentiments and arrogance to preside over the team. Players like IK uche, Ideye, Mba that were superb at the AFCON were dropped with no tangible reason. He then took lads like Joseph Akpala, Gambo Muhammed who were never good for any clubside to go a tournament of such magnitude. That’s when we should know Keshi had turned the Super Eagles to a rehabilitation centre for unknown players to show their talent.

When Keshi started having problems with some of our foreign players, I knew the end had come for him. That shows he never learnt his lesson. The same nonsense he did with Adebayor when he was Togo coach is same thing he had with some of our big players. No difference to what he did to IK UChe, who perhaps is our biggest export right now in Europe. Banging in goals week-in-week-out but has been unjustly left out from the team

We all blame Siasia for being a bad Man-manager but not knowing that Keshi is poor in that aspect. Keshi was asked about the non-inclusion of Uche in the current squad – in his words “Don’t ask me about Uche anymore” that’s arrogancy at its peak. Super Eagles is not Keshi’s private business he needed to let us know maybe he didn’t call him based on tactics or personal problem. Was also asked why Martins has not been looked into, he said he’s too old whereas, he included an Ameobi to the World cup team.

I remember vividly when Siasia was having problem with the boys, Amokachi the assistant to Keshi voiced out his opinion and said Siasia should be sacked because he couldn’t manage the dressing from situation. Amokachi hadn’t learnt anything from Siasia stint as Suepr Eagles gaffer.

Our Afcon qualifiers have been marred with mediocrity at the highest level. We’re in the easiest group having South Africa, Congo and the supposedly whipping boys of the group, Sudan.  But we’re struggling. Losing to Congo, Sudan and drawing away to SA is dangerous for our qualification albeit defending the crown in Morocco next year.

NFF are right for relieving Keshi of his duty, we can’t continue with a Keshi that thinks there’s a ‘gang up’ against him in the team. If a coach loses the dressing he’s as good as having a bad results which won’t go well with the team. When players are not playing for the coach, it’s time for the management to sack him. Moyes’ of Manchester United is an example and not forgetting Andre Villla Boas when he was Chelsea’s Gaffer.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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